Patient Advice and Consent for a course of Diode Laser Hair Removal Treatment

When considered in conjunction with the counselling you will receive, this document gives a balanced view of the treatment and the risks involved. If you have any questions please feel free to ask these at your consultation or at any time during your treatment. Please take time to read this form carefully before signing it. Only sign the Consent Form once you are sure that you have understood it.
Please note that this information applies to the treatment of skin lesions in general. Specifics that apply to each patient will be discussed prior to each treatment session. Your final decision must be based upon the specific advice of the practitioner. This form is a legal document and requires your signature before treatment can take place. You and the treating practitioner at the clinic will sign it on the day of your first treatment session. This gives the practitioner the right to treat you and sets out a legal relationship between the clinic and yourself. Swansea Laser Clinics Ltd does not interfere with the practitioner/patient relationship. It is the sole decision of the practitioner that determines suitability and acceptance for treatment. Appointments for treatment are provisional and do not form a contract. Compensation (e.g. for travelling expenses) will not be paid if treatment does not take place for any reason. Charges will be only be made for treatment received.

What are the consequences?

Treatment is now available for all skin types. The darker your skin the more treatment sessions you may require. Immediately after the treatment there will be minimal change in the appearance of the hair.

What are the limitations?

Although for the majority of lesions there is a table of settings that work for most patients, it is necessary to perform a test patch to determine the optimum setting of the laser for each treatment area and to assess the early skin reaction. The test patch will have to be assessed no less than 72 hours later.
Most problems will require more than one treatment session. The number of sessions required will depend on the rate of hair growth and the expectations of the patients. It is necessary to leave a minimum of four weeks between each treatment session. For areas below the neck the treatment interval will be six to eight weeks as there are a greater number of dormant hairs in these areas.
Complete clearance of all hair cannot be guaranteed. Reasonable expectation of the outcome must be discussed with your practitioner prior to commencing your treatment. Hair that is lighter than the surrounding skin cannot be treated.
If the hair is associated with an overlying skin irregularity, then it is likely that the laser beam will affect it. Further alternative methods may be discussed with your treating practitioner.
The effectiveness of the laser is dependent on the number of hairs in their active growth cycle (anagen). Only hairs that are in the active growth phase respond to the laser. Since other hairs will cycle from the dormant (telogen) phase to anagen at different times, additional treatments may be necessary to disable all the follicles in a given area. Clinical studies have also shown that any treated hairs that do re-grow will be finer and lighter than before the treatment.

What are the risks?

Diode Hair removal Treatments are typically administered in a series of four to six treatments. Spreading the treatment over this period provides a gradual improvement of the excessive hair, a minimal risk of adverse effects, and preserves the important “no downtime” feature of the program. In the rare cases where side effects do occur, postpone further treatments until after complete healing. The most common side effects are:

Discomfort

When a pulse is triggered, it may cause various degrees of discomfort. Some describe the sensation as stinging, while others liken it to a rubber band snap. A burning sensation may last for up to an hour after treatment.

Erythema

The most common side effects are erythema and oedema (redness and swelling) which generally occur immediately after laser treatment and typically resolve within 24 to 48 hours.

Damage to Skin

A crust or blister may form, which may take from five to ten days to heal.

Change of Pigmentation

There may be a change of pigmentation in the treated area. Most cases of hypo- or hyper-pigmentation occur in people with darker skin, or when the treated area has been exposed to sunlight before or after treatment. In some patients, hyper-pigmentation occurs despite protection from the sun. This discoloration usually fades in three to six months, but in rare cases, mainly hypopigmentation, the change of pigment may last longer or be permanent.

Scarring

There is a very small chance of scarring, such as enlarged hypertrophic scars. In very rare cases, abnormal, large, raised keloid scars may appear. To reduce the chance of scarring, it is important to carefully follow all post-treatment instructions and we aim to exclude patients that have a genetic tendency to scarring.

Excessive Swelling

Immediately after treatment the skin may swell temporarily. Swelling usually subsides within hours to as much as seven days.

Fragile Skin

The skin at or near the treatment site may become fragile. If this happens, avoid makeup and do not rub the area as this might tear the skin.

Bruising

Very rarely, a blue-purple bruise (purpura) may appear on the treated area. It may last from five to fifteen days. As the bruise fades, there may be a rust-brown discoloration of this skin, which fades in one to three months.

Livedo Reticularis

An autoimmune vascular disease, in which the blood vessels are constricted, or narrowed resulting in mottled discolouring on large areas of the legs or arms. This is a rare condition that does not respond to treatment.

There is a small chance of burns occurring on the skin. To reduce the possibility of burns from occurring, it is important to carefully follow all treatment instructions, and in particular to perform test patches. In particular, Retin-A, MD formulations and products containing Tretinoin should be avoided.

What you should do before the treatment

Please discuss your current skin treatment with your practitioner. Some products, such as Retin-A, Tretinoin and Differin Gel can sensitise the skin to treatment, and should be stopped at least two weeks before your laser treatment. It is recommended that the area is shaved before treatment. When this is done is dependant on the rate of hair growth. The aim is to have a little visible stubble at the time of treatment. Read here why shaving does not make hair growth worse.

What you can expect at the time of your treatment

Most patients are able to tolerate this. For large areas, or in patients who are unable to tolerate the discomfort, a local anaesthetic cream (AneStop) can be applied to the skin for up to two hours before the start of treatment. This will greatly reduce the discomfort of the treatment but will not remove it completely. The only discomfort experience afterwards is similar to that of mild sunburn. The area of cream application must be no greater than the area of one thigh.
If the treated area becomes crusty or dry you may apply a simple moisturiser to the skin from the day after you have had the laser treatment. If the area is exposed to sunshine then apply a high sun protection factor cream each morning for six months and reapply as indicated through the day. You should not use fake tan lotions for seven days before your treatment.

Patient Consent

I confirm that I am not under any pressure by Swansea Laser Clinics Ltd, or its staff and associates, to undergo treatment.
I confirm that I have read the contents of this form. I confirm that this consent is given freely and a full explanation has been given. All questions have been answered to my satisfaction. I understand the risks and alternatives involved in this procedure. I believe I have adequate knowledge upon which to base an informed consent.
I understand that no guarantee is given that any particular practitioner will administer treatment.
I understand that my consent may be withdrawn verbally or in writing at any stage without detriment to my treatment. I agree to pay in full, any treatment session started should I subsequently withdraw. I also understand that I must provide at least 24 hours notice of my intent to cancel an appointment.
I agree that any recording of my treatment by photographic, electronic or any other means may be used for training purposes, public information and publication.

Swansea Laser Clinic first established 27th May 1997. Swansea Laser Clinic is the trading name of Swansea Laser Clinic Limited.

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